The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Vick's Vapor Rub
Posted by Laverne (York, SC) on 03/27/2006
★★★★★
I cured a boil on my brother's side. Used a mixture of warm compresses and vicks vapor rub...the boil came to a head the next day...the boil was very painful to him.
Baking Soda
Posted by Lorik (Riverside, Ca) on 12/27/2010
A small pimple turned out into a large boil and I wanted to just let everybody know that do not try to do a home remedy-especially when the boil gets bigger. I had tried to put hot paper towels and compress them on the boil and also put 91% Alcohol to dry out the boil however; it was getting larger than a golf ball. Finally, I went in the emergency and had them lance it and drain the pus and turned into a staff infection. The boil was on my bikini line!!! Of all things where I shave on a consistant basis-this time got infected-next time I will clean with alcohol. Now I know why men use aftershave-it has alcohol in it. I just knew that if it wasn't getting better that there was immediate attention and not to take chances and allow your body to heal with that big of boil to pop on its own is crazy and also taking chances with getting admitted into the hospital. Please go to a doctor, it can be very deadly and also, if you have diabetes, more severe chance of recovery. I don't have diabetes however; was worried when they tested me for it instantly. I am on Kfex and some other antibiotic including a pain reliever.
Baking Soda
Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 10/19/2012
re: countertops - I use Borax on my countertops. Use it like "comet", but it won't blanch your clothes like bleach will, and no horrid smell or toxicity. As a bonus it will get rid of any "house" that bugs have that are pestering your kitchen. Just use it like you would a normal abrasive. PS baking soda will make your sink shine like no tomorrow.
Nutmeg
Posted by RP (USA) on 03/02/2021
Turmeric can cure very serious cases of boils but one would have to take a teaspoon of it in a glass of water several times a day. And, of course, eat only foods that are recognizable as coming from Nature and no sugar, white flour, fried or processed food, and lots of water each day
Nutmeg
Posted by Ronda (Arkansas) on 07/18/2021
Starting nutmeg today, I'll be back with results. I am 53 and have been dealing with walnut size boils since my early teens, the last 15 years they've grown to fist size, I've tried doctors even infectious disease doctors tried for a couple of years. No luck. I'm believing this will be the answer. Thank you in advance for the information.
These big ones ( fist/ baseball size) make me sick head to toe with joint pain and so sleepy if I get the time off I sleep for days. I've been on medical leave 3 times a month each and slept most of all the month.
I'm giving my history so when I do come back with results you can know what a blessing beyond measure sharing this information has been.
My last big one in 2019/ 2020 I Prayed for death to come before another developed. The one now is walnut size thank the Lord.
Thank you
Ronda
Nutmeg
Posted by ivybridge (TN) on 07/19/2021
It is possible that your hormones are out of balance. Here is a list of steroidal hormones that I would check.
Steroid Hormones:
Testosterone, Free with Total
Estrogens, Total
Estrone
Estradiol
DHEA-S
Progesterone
Pregnenolone
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
FSH/LH
Cortisol
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Rp (Usa) on 06/13/2018
The boils (though painful) will come to a head and empty themselves so there is no need to lance them. Turmeric taken in water several times a day will cure many, but one has to clean up one's diet only eating food that actually looks like food items and cook it yourself (no restaurant food which often has sugar in many dishes and other chemicals, nor processed or fried food of any sort, nor alcohol, sodas, etc. just pure water or herbal teas and juices)
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Khadijahsfarmer (Pennsylvania) on 06/27/2018
★★★★★
🌻 I have seen better results with taking the turmeric, ACV regularly and will let them come to a head instead of having them lanced as I have learned here, thanks all praise due to GOD. Smile, it's an act of charity.
Silver
Posted by Katzie (Calgary) on 10/17/2015
★★★★★
I used to use an incredibly awesome turmeric/manuka honey combination for most boils. Turmeric is a miracle substance, but it stains everything. So, about a year ago I started using silver gel on a boil as soon as I detected it ; that, combined with a non-stick medical pad, and that boil would soon disappear. The neatest thing is, is that it seems to have diminished the frequency of the boils, as well. I also use it on my teen's pimples and it zaps them as well. I also use silver gel and/or manuka honey in place of polysporin now. Good health, everybody!
Glass Bottle Suction Technique
Posted by Lady Mars (Florida) on 07/12/2015
★★★★★
When my husband was younger, he got several boils and carbuncles over the course of a year. The hospital lanced them each time and they usually came back. He also got antibiotics and perhaps other drugs. The worst one was a carbuncle, an infected boil with several heads. Finally his father suggested an old remedy and the doctor agreed to try it.
Find a bottle with a mouth just large enough to fit over the boil. Fill the bottle with very hot water. In a minute or two, dump out the water. Place the hot bottle over the boil and a suction will form, pulling out the "gunk". In my husband's case, the boil never came back.
Glass Bottle Suction Technique
Posted by Richard (Philippians ) on 07/25/2020
★★★★★
As long as the boil isn't on my face or neck or some place where a scar will be seen. I don't care if there is a scar! The bottle method will pull the core of the boil out, it works! The boil will not come back!
Tomato
Posted by Anon (Nc) on 06/28/2013
★★★★★
Tomato paste does work for boils! My pain was horrible and even on antibiotics it felt like the boil was too deep in my skin for it to come up I got desperate and as my husband laughed at me I put the tomato paste over it and then covered with a bandage. Slept with the heating pad on my leg and the next morning it opened. So relieved from the pain. I will do this immediately if I get another one.
Staph- Related
Posted by Francesca (New York, Ny) on 12/27/2012
Have the inside of your nose tested for staph!!! I suffered from staph infections on my legs and butt for years in the form of boils and abscesses. I went to numerous doctors, western, acupuncturists, and naturopaths. I tried every recommendation I heard, I even only ate alkaline food, cut out sugar, wheat, meat, and dairy. Last month I saw a dermatologist and he asked if my nose had ever been tested. In none of my countless doctors visits and online forums did I hear/read anything about this. But he tested my nose, found staph, and then gave me bactroban cream to put in my nose every night before bed for two weeks. After the two weeks of putting the cream in my nose, I was retested and I no longer have staph!! I used to get abscesses when I didn't get enough sleep or was stressed out. I just completed my third, and most stressful, semester of graduate school and am fine! I cannot stress this enough, the dermatologist changed my life!
Drawing Salve
Posted by Eaglez (Waldwick, Nj) on 09/09/2012
★★★★★
Here is a home-made remedy that I have used for many years to draw out foreign objects from a body including the spores from poison ivy, metal and glass shards, splinters of all kinds and even infectionous erruptions on the skin. It works. Its simple to make and easy to apply without a mess.
Get yourself a bar of 'brown soap' from Walmart, Walgreens or your supermarket. I have two brands that I have stocked up on: Octagen and Felsnappa. Either will work just fine. Now, place a small plastic bag flat and un-opened on a table. Place the bar of soap on the plastic. Take a butter knife and begin to shave off thin slices of the soap onto the plastic. If the bar of soap you are using has been around for awhile it may be a little dry and will slice off harder than a freshly unwrapped bar of soap. Either will work just fine. Okay, when you have an amount that will cover the intended area of concern remove the bar of soap and then, using your fingers, mush the scrapped pieces of soap together making something that resembles an upside cone or pyramid. Now get some household white sugar and, using a spoon, make a pile of sugar next to the shaved soap. Add enough white sugar so that it is about the same size as the soap. When done simply mush together the soap and the sugar with your fingers. Now you need to add water, a drop or two at a time to make a paste that is not runny or too think and lumpy. Be careful not to add too much water as it will render the paste to a watery mass and become difficult to work with when applying it. When the paste is tacky to the touch, or close to it, apply it to the area(s) of your concern. I use the plastic bag that I mixed the soap and sugar on as a cover to which I also apply some thin padding such as a piece of inexpensize gauze. If you are out in the woods or away from civilization use your best guess as to what to use that would cover the mixture and hold it in place for about twelve hours. About twelve hours after applying this mixture you can take it off and make another application if needed. I've used this to draw out pieces of rust from a terribly corroded nail, pieces of glass, snips of wire and gravel (sliding on a road surface after a fall from a bike). It works well. Someimes a second or even a third application will be needed to do the job - it definitely works. Hope this helps someone.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Jesuslover (Minneapolis, Minnesota Usa) on 01/26/2012
★★★★★
Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for the individual testimonials and great information on this site! I contracted a staph infection shortly after surgery and also a bad cut on my finger, not sure exactly which was the cause. The infection resulted in a boil which my doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat. I was on the antibiotics for almost the full course of treatment, and while there was some improvement, it did not quickly cure or alleviate the uncomfortable condition. I started taking two capsules of oil of oregano a day, which I just happened to have in the cupboard since a friend gave them to me. The same day I began taking these my condition began to improve much more rapidly! I know it was because of the oil of oregano and I thank God for this "miracle herb". I have never really been one who put much stock in herbal remedies but I will definitely do more research in the future before only depending on presciption medications for every affliction. Thanks again for sharing this valuable information! God bless :)
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sally (Melbourne) on 08/04/2016
Hair is actually helpful, it helps keep pores open and helps sebum leave the pore... pores with hair in them depend on the hair to help the pore function. This is why shaving leads to clogged pores, and folicilitis. I would encourage you to research issues that have resulted from permanent hair removal before you take this step, to make sure it is right for you.
Garlic
Posted by Ginkobiloba (New York, Usa) on 06/30/2011
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
After reading about garlic as a strong antibiotic I put crushed garlic on a staph boil (I think that's what it was. I had one many years ago in the same place and went to the doctor and that's what he called it- he gave me antibiotics)
I would hold the garlic in place with a sterile pad and an ace bandage, leaving it on for hours at a time. WELL, the boil opened but it also spread! It got worse! I switched to drinking vinegar and tumeric and also rubbbing Caledula oil on it. Immediate improvement. I even did the baking soda a couple times which was cooling. I made a Shea butter salve with Calendula, Usnea, Wormwood and Comfrey. Large red inflamed area almost gone, but it has been almost 10 days (since the garlic). Thanks everyone...
Flaxseed Poultice
Posted by Cj (Elk Grove, Ca, Usa) on 05/25/2011
★★★★★
Another remedy for boils if bacon does not work is to make a poultice out of ground flaxseed. Add enough hot water (as hot as you can stand it) to make a slightly soupy paste. Apply to skin and cover with a clean cloth. Allow to dry and then soak it off. The flaxseed causes it to come to a head. We used this when I was a child and suffered from carbuncle outbreaks.
Flaxseed Poultice
Posted by Trawhe (Glenwood, Md) on 10/22/2012
★★★★★
The flaxseed option worked within hours. I mixed flaxseed powder with very warm water and put mixture onto a clean cloth then put against the boil, then placed a heating pad underneath and the boil started to go away and took the pain away. This was after I tried the bacon for eight hours that did not work for me. Thanks a bunch for this method. I can get some sleep tonight.
Drawing Salve
Posted by Marie (Conr9e) on 08/21/2015
★★★★★
I am amazed how many people get these horrific boils! I'm diabetic and 4 months ago I had actual an surgery because the antibiotics were not working. They put me in the hospital and gave me antibiotics through it, was the size 6 center meters. After 4 days they decided to perform surgery in the operating room. It was horrible. It was 4 inches wide and long.
Well, I just got another one @its been 4 months. Now I have a huge boil in the panty line horrible unrelenting pain. i started using ichtoma,l bad smell, but it's been three day and it's forming a head. I also have been putting warm compresses on it.
i wish they found a cure but ichtomal does work
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Tina (Princeton, New Jersey) on 01/09/2011
Amen to that. Could't have said it better myself, Lisa.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Maymuse (St Louis, Mo) on 09/08/2011
Dmontg: I too have had recurring boils (which eventually led to a 5-day stint in a hospital), after I allowed a golfball sized boil grow in my neck - turns out, it was in my gland!
The hospital pumped me full of antibiotics and fluids; and warned me that it was MRSA. Ever since, I have had many boils which seem impossible to relieve - most of them have been on my face and neck, with the occasional buttock boil (awful, you can imagine).
I've found that I'm prone to getting these after eating certain foods: just like Elle from Austin TX, cheap chocolate pudding seems to provoke an attack. Also certain nuts, like almonds, seem to be a cause. My menstrual cycle may be an indicator. However, I don't get boils every month...?
Not sure of any other commonalities amongst us with recurring boils, but I have O-negative blood. I had a bad outbreak of shingles, followed by a severe case of mononucleosis a few years later, and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about 5 years ago, after suffering years of widespread pain.
I really prefer natural home remedies, and avoid taking prescription medication - especially since my body seems to be resistent to most antibiotics at this point.
Thanks to the generous people shared comments on this site, I've discovered that ACV (apple cider vinegar) and tumeric are essential parts of the diet in order to keep these at bay. I also use tea tree oil, and lavender oil on the site of any boil.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Debby (Carrollton, Texas, Usa) on 10/15/2012
I have boils for the past 3 1/2 years... Took antibiotics but they still come back. I have took Turmeric pills also for over a year still having boils, so sick of having them. Now I trying ACV with honey twice a day that someone on here suggested. Just wanted to let anyone know that Turmeric did work a little when I first started taking it but now it don't seem to work still getting boils..... Hope this helps anyone I really know how ya'll feel.....
Draining a Boil
Posted by Ebby (Toronto, Ontario) on 07/01/2010
★★★★★
Just a quick note. This may sound strange but after not having much success draining a boil with wet heated cloth I decided to try a heavy duty paper towel and presto, the boil began to drain for over an hour. Change towel regularly and rest. hope this helps. Also, i too have found the turmeric cure helpful and use oregano oil as an antibactial.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sandy (Mebane, Nc) on 06/30/2010
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar has definitely helped my boils. I drink it at least 2 times a day with water.
Activated Charcoal
Posted by Helen (Stillwater, Ok) on 11/08/2012
My husband was bit my a spider and developed red streaks and the center of the bite was nasty looking. I mixed water and charcoal together and put on the bite with a bandade. The bite starting healing. After the site healed there was a small dark spot, like a stain or tatoo.
Activated Charcoal
Posted by Janet (In) on 10/27/2017
Lena Here is an answer from Ted here on earth clinic. As he says most of the things are available at the drug store. Or Amazon.
I soak almost everything in magnesium and borax saturated water. Milk of magnesia or magnesium oil.
Applying iodine is prudent. Colloidal Silver too. Ted mentions hydrogen peroxide.
I noticed that with an infection under my nail, the iodine color disappears pretty quick. Must be applied frequently. It is being used up pretty quickly, it seems.
Janet
Here is Teds post
https://ted.earthclinic.com/cures/impetigo2.html
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Luckyseattlegirl (Seattle, Wa Usa) on 01/25/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I just wanted to make a quick comment about boils. It is very important to get your boils checked out by a doctor because now days there is a huge spread of MRSA infections that look like boils but they are really staph infections. Sometimes people think that a boil is just a boil but it is really a deadly staph infection. MRSA staph infections can kill you or if the infection just looks like a boil it can really be doing a lot of hard on the inside of your body and spread and if it gets into your blood stream (and it happens fast) it could kill you or make you deathly sick. If you get something that looks like a boil or a infected pimple get it looked at and do take the antibiotics unless you don't care if you die or get deathly sick. When I was young I got boils all the time and my mom would take care of them for me. Now I am 26 and have been in the hospital from a serious staph infection that looked just like a pimple or a boil. I spent a week in the hospital once for thinking it would just go away and I try homemade treatment. Don't try to fix yourself or a pet in these situations. Go seek professional help with these. This info may save your life. Also, never poke at a pimple or boil with anything sharp or squeeze them because it may be a staph infection and could spread inside of your body and will cause a hospitalization over night. trust me. I know lots of people that thought these things would go away after squeezing them and ended up spending the night in the hospital.
Vitamin A
Posted by Frances A (Jacksonville, Florida) on 11/29/2009
★★★★★
Recurring boils and similar large, painful pimples
After age 21 I had terrible huge pimples. When my pharmacist told me that some derms prescribed Vitamin A, I started on it immediately.. It was like a miracle, a moderate miracle. The huge deep pimples stopped and my skin improved in other ways.
I used to take 50,000 units a day but now I would limit myself to 25,000 units per day. Just be patient and don't stop the treatment.
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Vadagirl (Denver, Colorado) on 11/18/2009
Wish I'd checked this page 4 days ago.... I squeezed and it did not help! I remembered using heat and that was painful, but it did bring it to a head. Also used a bandaid w/ drops of Tea Tree Oil. Will try these other suggestions in the future. Glad I found this site! Could have saved myself a lot of pain!
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Blanche (Iberia Parish, Louisiana) on 07/07/2010
Can anyone tell me if boracic acid is the same as boric acid or borax?
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Gpk17042 (Cleona, Usa) on 12/12/2010
Does turmeric cause diarrhea(sp. )?
Boil Treatment Warnings
Posted by Beth0210 (Trumbull, Connecticut, USA) on 12/22/2014
Raw turmeric really does stain! My grandma's hands were yellow-orange for days after handling the root. Do you know any reliable brand for turmeric powder? Or any ideas on how to properly turn turmeric root into powder so I can tell my grandma? Thanks!
Ice Cubes
Posted by Judith (California, USA) on 07/13/2015
★★★★★
Erin, thank you for your post.
I believe you are on to something with your ice cube remedy. I recently had a terrible bout with boils/staph for about 3 months in a very delicate area which was not easy to contain or treat. One turned into 14 quickly. Very painful. I tried everything (turmeric, manuka honey, acv, tea tree oil, golden seal, garlic and numerous others) to get rid of them. Nothing was working for me. I had read your post, but didn't actually try it because of how sensitive the area is with the infection. Then the weather warmed I started swimming in a very cold river for about 1 hour several times a week. After the 1st week, I noticed that some of the boils had come to a head and erupted without any prompting from me and others shrank to nothing. After a few weeks of swimming in that very cold river 4x's/week, I'm happy to say that the infection has almost completely cleared. The only thing that I have been doing in addition to swimming is applying colloidal silver in the morning and evening to keep the infection from spreading. I think bringing your body (or body part with the infection) temperature way down for a period of time is the key to killing it. I remembered your post and thought I would corroborate your findings as well. Should this ever happen to me again, I will put my body in an ice bath if I'm not near a river (or it's winter). I think you may have uncovered the cure. Thanks again for your post.
Nic's Turmeric Recipe
Posted by Nic (Athens, Greece) on 06/10/2009
★★★★★
Boils: recipe Turmeric + Sesame Oil + black pepper
Hi everybody.
Another post, this time it's about what helped me with the latest boil, which appeared right after the first rain of summer just like it happened a year ago with another boil and two years before and so on. First of all, there is certainly a connection with seasonal rain and pollution, I was ready for the first rain trouble, but unfortunately I had to be outside on that particular day. Within an hour the boil started and became quite big, the next days it got huge. I started with turmeric in warm water, and applied some topically too, it helped a bit, but then it got very nasty, the next few days I continued with onions (compresses), eating raw garlic and ACV+honey. Nothing changed. I thought that turmeric and all the other remedies worked temporarily for me and took antibiotics and aspirin. Again, nothing AT ALL changed my condition for the better, so I stopped taking any medication. A day and a half passed and I started reading the testimonies and info here again and again thinking that perhaps the answer to my problem was hiding somewhere. Indeed, I read about combining turmeric powder with oil or fat, I'm allergic to lactose, but coconut oil was mentioned, so this reminded me of oil pulling and I use top quality sesame oil for that. Yesterday, on the verge of arranging an appointment with a doctor to have it lanced after having lost my faith and courage, I did the following:
Two tablespoons of sesame oil
Five tablespoons of water
I warmed them a lot, without boiling them I then added one teaspoon of turmeric powder and a bit of black pepper. I stirred well and drank it.
In half an hour the boil that was the size of a golf ball by then, burst, and kept draining for half an hour! The size of it was reduced to minimum! I could feel comfortable again, relieved! Amazing I said to myself. But hey, there's more: All night more fluid came out and in the morning when I thought that was it, it's over, it burst one more time.. and in the end, a white little thing popped out as well, I guess it was the root!
I hope this recipe will help someone out there. If turmeric has worked temporarily for you, maybe in really ugly situations you need to combine it with something, such as oil (sesame oil or coconut oil) or milk/creme.
Best wishes to all of you and thanks Earth Clinic!
Your fan.
Boil Triggers: Almonds
Posted by Danielle (Atlanta, GA) on 06/10/2009
Last week I noticed that I had a strange skin infection on my cheek. After researching my symptoms on Earth Clinic, I think I have had a reaction to almonds! They are a favorite snack, and I keep a jar in my car for busy days, when I don't have time for lunch. Instead of eating just a few, I ate a large handful and noticed my symptoms the next day. I started on Turmeric, a teaspoon in a glass of water. I took my first dose on Thursday night, and took a second dose Friday morning. By Friday evening, my skin had completely cleared up! I am thrilled and amazed by this simple, natural cure!
Boil Triggers: Almonds
Posted by Pinkanemone (Indianapolis, In) on 11/26/2011
I also started getting boils a few months ago. it also started after eating quite a bit of almonds -toasted almond slivers for salad, they were quite old.... Overdated (but didn't taste bad).... have been taking turmeric every 1 or 2 days, and haven't had anymore come on, but still have a red lump on my forehead where one started, doesn't hurt anymore, but won't go away....
Boil Triggers: Almonds
Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 10/19/2012
OK. Now I am officially spooked out. I got a ping pong size boil on my pubic mons 4 days ago, after having my IUD out and a weekend of *heavy* bleeding (sorry). But.. Also last weekend I snacked on raw almonds a couple of times. I love almonds, and well I thought they were supposed to be healthy, but wow?? I donno, I'm convinced it was from the top part of a "sanitary" pad that umm... Wasn't, but I'll experiment with the almonds again a few weeks after this boil goes away.
